CMS SOM App. A, Tag A-1720

The hospital must provide a

therapeutic activities program.

Interpretive Guidelines §482.62(g)

Therapeutic activities refer to any endeavor, other than routine activities of daily living

(ADLs), in which the patient participates that is intended to enhance, restore, and

maintain optimal levels of physical, psychosocial, cognitive and emotional functioning.

These include, but are not limited to, activities that promote self-esteem, pleasure,

comfort, education, creativity, success, and independence.

The hospital is responsible for ensuring consistent availability and provision of

individualized therapeutic activities to inpatients and outpatients. The therapeutic

activities provided must be appropriate to the patient’s diagnosis and physical condition,

based on the patient’s identified needs, appropriate to the setting, and follow nationally

recognized standards of practice.

Types of therapies that may be used to restore, maintain and optimize physical and

psychosocial functioning may include, but are not limited to, Tai Chi, Yoga, dance

therapy, music therapy, exercise, etc.

The selection of individualized therapeutic activities should be based on the patient’s

needs and interests, and goals set in the patient’s treatment plan after an assessment by

the therapeutic activities personnel.

Survey Procedures §482.62(g)

• Verify that the hospital has a therapeutic activities program,

• Ask the hospital leadership to identify the person responsible for the direction of

the therapeutic activities program,

• Ask the person responsible for directing therapeutic activities:

• To describe how patients are informed of therapeutic activities available,

• To describe the types of therapeutic activities offered, and

• To describe how the activities are appropriate to meet the needs and

interests of the patient.

• Ask the staff providing therapeutic activities to describe how the activities are

selected and made available to each patient,

• Verify there are mechanisms in place to provide therapeutic activities during

periods when certain activities are not available at the facility, yet needed,

• Interview patients. Ask if they were provided options for therapeutic activities.